Can Computers Think?

This is a discussion on Can Computers Think? within the A Brief History of Cprogramming.com forums, part of the Community Boards category; .... and would it be fair to say that a software is like the human mind where the body is ...

No. The computer cannot use logic without human programming. Scientists, according to MIT's Technology Review magazine, are creating ImoBots(Immobile Robots), that can sometimes use logic better than humans, so computers can be very smart when programmed well, but computers have disadvantages. They can't learn by sight/hearing/smell/touch/taste because they have no senses, and they only can contain a certain amount of data.

Someday, computers might have AI's good enough that they could really be considered to think, but for now I'd say I'd say you're taking the analogy too literally.

<tangent philosophical="true">But a new question arises if computers have advanced to being capable of true intelligent thought and humanlike or better mobility: What will we the humans do? Most of our life is ultimately spent dealing with work and the problems that arise from it. If machines could do virtually all the tasks humans needed done, what would we occupy our time with? How/Would we need to educate ourselves? How would our society be structured?</tangent>

Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

Well, you might be able develop an AI that thinks "like a human being", but how aware are we of the way we think?

Can you teach a computer to have a purpose:
1. beyond self-preservation?
2. and beyond definition/determination by a human entity?

Much of our thoughts has nothing to do with improving our lives on a strictly biological level. Or. . . are they? If so, can computers/AI be taught to develop complex relationships with other entities, such as:
1. the human's manipulative role over its environment
2. the emotional connections between humans and others humans, their world, other organisms, etc.

I would disagree. If you argue that computers cannot think because they are only following the rules of their programming, then you must conclude that humans cannot think because our brains are only following the rules dictated by physics.

Some people argue that there is some quantum mechanical magic going inside the brain, and it is this which leads to consciousness. I think that's rubbish. Even if it where true, I don't see why some quantum mechanical hardware couldn't be integrated into a machine.

As for the Turing Test, it is not considered so important in many circles. It is more a test of humaness, rather than intelligence. Would some hypothetical technologically advanced alien pass the Turing Test? Or would we conclude that it wasn't really thinking.

There are some species of spider (Salticedae) which have excellent stereoscopic vision and display remarkable problem solving intelligence (including forward planning). If a robot could be built which displayed the same ability, many people would conclude it was intelligent. But would it be? It certainly wouldn't be human, that's for sure.